Crime Numbers Drop In March For UWS Over Last Year: NYPD Data

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Crime reports are down by nearly 20 percent on the Upper West Side, according to police statistics.

In crime numbers released recently for the neighborhood, overall major crime fell by over 17 percent in March, compared to the same time period last year.

But a closer look shows that reported crimes actually rose in one precent, and that the statistical falls in the other helped to buoy the overall statistics.

Across the neighborhood, nearly every major felony fell by double-digits when compared to March 2023 — with the largest falls seen in rape (50 percent) and auto theft (46 percent).

Burglary fell by 24 percent, while felony assault fell by nearly 20 percent and grand larceny — thefts over $1,000 in value — dropped by nearly 13 percent, the data says.

Robberies remained flat, with 16 reported incidents for both March this and last year.

But when the data is split into the two precincts which cover the neighborhood — the 20th and 24th precincts — a different story is found in the statistics.

Big declines in reported crime in the 24th Precinct, which runs between West 86th Street and Cathedral Parkway, helped to soften a small rise in crime in the 20th Precinct, between West 59th and West 86th streets.

Overall crime fell almost 35 percent in the 24th Precinct in March 2024 compared to last year, including an incredible 76 percent drop in burglary, from 17 reports in 2023 to 4 in 2024.

The only increases were seen in rape, with one additional report over last year, and in robbery, with two more reports.

That's a far cry from the staggering year-over-year increase seen in the precinct back in February, where robbery reports were up 466 percent, according to the NYPD data.

Retail theft is also down 24 percent compared to last year.

Overall year-to-date, crime is down by 18 percent in the 24th Precinct, according to the NYPD data.

But in the more southern 20th Precinct, it was a different story, with major crimes ticking up slightly over last year on average by 1.22 percent.

Many crimes fell — like robbery (28 percent), auto theft (60 percent), felony assault (11 percent), retail theft (10.8 percent) and rapes, with none reported compared to three last year — but certain thefts were way up.

Burglary rose by over 87 percent in March this year, with 15 reports. Last March, that number was only eight.

And grand larcenies also saw three additional incidents in March, giving it a six percent rise over March 2023.

Overall year-to-date, crime is still down for the 20th Precinct by about a percentage point.

In a historical perspective, the 24th Precinct is also faring better, with major crimes down by over 14 percent so far this year when compared to the same time period two years ago, and is nine percent lower than this point in 2010.

For the 20th Precinct, crime is still high for recent historical memory. NYPD data says the numbers are three percent higher than two years ago — and 11.6 percent higher than this point in 2010.

The data shows that compared to 31 years ago, the neighborhood is still far better off when it comes to crime statistics.

Overall on the Upper West Side, crime numbers are still well over 75 percent lower than it was in 1993, according to data for both precincts.